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MPR News presents The 2025 Low-Stakes Debate, because even in a non-election year, everyone has an opinion about everything.

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 28  

Pronto pups or corn dogs? Ye Old Mill or Mouse Trap? Crop art or Fine Arts Building? These are the sorts of debates that arise every year at the Minnesota State Fair. 

Usually, they are relegated to family squabbles or friendly banter. But this year, we bring them to the Minnesota Public Radio stage and put them in front of two folks – one a Republican, one a Democrat, and both co-hosts of the podcast “

” – for an entertaining debate about things that absolutely don’t matter. 

So, what state fair topics have caught your eye this year, or year’s past? Do you feel strongly for certain fair foods over others?  

We’re inviting you to chime in. Please submit your debate topic below. And, full disclosure, neither debater will see submitted topics — so neither party will know what topic or side will be theirs to defend in typical debate club fashion.

Amy Koch is a former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader and a conservative strategist at Hylden Advocacy and Law. Javier Morillo is a former labor organizer and progressive strategist.

Together, they co-host a political podcast together called “Wrong About Everything,” an irreverent politics show where they pick apart some of the hardest subjects that divide the country.

A familiar voice, former MPR host, a political junkie and now retired 

 will keep the debaters in check throughout the event. Mulcahy is an experienced moderator himself, having hosted a number of debates over his career. 

Mulcahy served as MPR’s senior politics editor and hosted MPR’s Politics Friday. 

State Fair

Shows

All Things Considered

Heidi Raschke

Author

Matthew Alvarez

Join us for a lively, fun-filled debate at the Minnesota State Fair!

, at the corner of Judson Ave and Nelson St on the fairgrounds.

Join us for a lively, fun-filled debate at the Minnesota State Fair!
📅 Thursday, Aug. 28
🕥 10:30 a.m.
📍 MPR Booth, at the corner of Judson Ave and Nelson St on the fairgrounds.


Andrew Krueger | MPR News

minnesota state fair multiple polaroid snapshots2

Liam James Doyle for MPR News

Courtesy of Hylden Advocacy & Law, Amy Koch | Courtesy of Javier Morillo

A man in a suit tosses a coin before a candidate debate

The 2025 Low-Stakes Debate from MPR News: Because even in a non-election year, everyone has an opinion about everything

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